The Buzz: Darboy Panda Express gets ready

First of two Panda Expresses in Fox Cities nears opening day

Dec. 8, 2012

Manitowoc Chef Robin Her, center left, trains James Curtis of Appleton, right, in food prep and cooking as they discuss the different sauces used to make each entree at the Panda Express in Manitowoc on Wednesday, December 5, 2012. James will have two weeks of training at the Manitowoc restaurant before working at the new Panda Express in Appleton. / Sue Pischke/Gannett Wisconsin

Written by

Maureen Wallenfang

Post-Crescent staff writer

The first of two freestanding Panda Express restaurants could open as soon as Saturday if final preparations go as planned.

Late last week, building contractors pressed to complete the Darboy Panda Express location at N112 Stoney Brook Road in Buchanan. That’s in front of Kohl’s, and across the street from Red Robin. It could open on Saturday, depending on final inspections.

The second location in Grand Chute, on West College Avenue at Kools Street, is being built simultaneously, but is expected to open slightly later, on Dec. 27. It’s on the site of the torn-down PDQ.

“We’re investing a lot in the Wisconsin market,” said Jason Cha, the company’s Brookfield-based area coach of operations. “We have these two plus two more opening in the Milwaukee market this month. We will build at least three to five more sites in Wisconsin. We’re negotiating for Green Bay next year.”

The two coming Appleton area branches are freestanding quick casual Asian restaurants with similar designs. They have glass tile, stainless steel and cheerful wall colors. Both have inside seating for 30 to 40 people and drive-thru windows. They’ll serve the chain’s popular dishes like orange chicken, Beijing beef and peppercorn shrimp.

Each will hire 15 to 20 people. Some new Darboy employees are currently in training at the Fox River Mall and Manitowoc Panda Express, which opened in September. The company continues to hire for both Fox Cities locations.

The privately owned California-based Panda Express company has had a presence in the Fox Cities since 1997 with its counter in the Fox River Mall food court. That location will continue to operate. Nationally, it has more than 1,500 branches, all of which are company owned, not franchises.

Panda Express got a slow start in Wisconsin, with one branch floundering and closing years ago in a lackluster Madison mall. But after a freestanding location near Milwaukee’s Miller Park took off, the company looked at expanding here. It now has seven locations in the state.

“Every one of them has been more and more successful,” said Cha. “That’s why we’re here.”

Cha didn’t divulge the price to open a branch, but the Grand Chute’s structure, heating, electrical and plumbing totaled $357,000 in town building permits.